uIN THE KNOW
www.vetnpetdirect.com.au
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Joint problems like arthritis, degenerative joint
disease and of course injuries are a common
issue faced by our canine friends. These joint
conditions can have a detrimental effect on
our dog's quality of life. As dog owners it
is important to do what we can to keep our
dog's joints healthy and pain free to ensure our
companions live a happy, healthy and long life.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to help care
for your dog's joints and keep a spring in their
step for longer.
Weight plays a very significant role on an
animal's health impacting many aspects of
their overall wellbeing. Keeping your dog in
their ideal weight range is essential to prevent
extra strain on bones, joints, ligaments and
circulatory system. Speak to your veterinarian
about the ideal weight range and body score
for your dog.
Jumping in and out of cars, off beds or
couches and just during day to day play can put
a lot of extra stress and impact on the joints.
Try to limit these repetitive actions as best as
you can. You can use pet stairs or ramps to stop
the jumping on and off beds and couches as
well as getting them in and out of the car. Or
you could try to train them not to jump up and
down but instead wait to be lifted.
Exercise is really important for a dog's physical
and mental health as well as helping them to
maintain a healthy weight. Exercise also helps
keep a dog limber by lubricating the joints and
keeps connective tissues from stiffening up.
Just be mindful of the type of exercise you do
with your dog as lots of fast running with sharp
stopping and starting puts extra strain on joints
and increases the chance of injury.
Supplements are a great addition to your
dog's diet to not only help with the treatment
of existing joint conditions but they are also
extremely helpful in preventing joint issues.
There are a wide range of supplements
available that help in different ways by
supporting joint health, assisting in rebuilding
cartilage and having anti-inflammatory effects.
Veterinary check-ups and early intervention
is really important when it comes to joint
conditions so that you can try to prevent
the condition from rapidly deteriorating and
hopefully find a way to stop or even improve
the damage. Regular vet check-ups are
essential as a vet can often identify possible
concerns before owners even realise they exist
or offer prescription medications if required.
Keep a Spring
in their Step
